Shelf Companies

Shelf companies (ready-made companies, shelf corporations or aged corporation) are a form companies that are pre registered and are kept in a sleeping (non active) state for future use. In this case the main purpose for these kinds of companies are for sale. This is particularly attractive in places where the incorporation times for businesses are way longer than the change of company owners, allowing for a much faster way to
acquire a company. Another reason for buying a shelf company may be the need for an company that has been registered for some time.

Where shelf companies are available?

Shelf companies are available in most countries, so that most offshore locations would have some available. There are many large firms that are just in the business of selling ready made companies for profit. One of the larger examples would be the United States of America.

As an example of the use of shell companies in the past can be named a company that had over 160 m2 of house area, filled with addresses for over 700 registered companies.